Bedside vigil for injured Garda

The family of a young garda officer was keeping a bedside vigil tonight as he fought for life after being mown down by teenage car thieves.

Robert McCallion was trying to block the robbers off in Letterkenny, Co Donegal, when one of them drove at him crushing him against a wall.

The 29-year-old garda, from Swinford, Co Mayo, was described as critically ill with head injuries after being transferred to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin.

Two teenagers, one arrested at the scene and another picked up later, were continuing to be questioned after their periods of detention were extended this evening.

Justice Minister Dermot Ahern said he was outraged and has spoken personally with Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy about the incident.

“What occurred near Letterkenny this morning was the actions of a mindless individual who appeared intent on inflicting serious injury if not death,” he said.

“This brave young Garda and his colleagues were carrying out their duties in the interests of public safety.”

Gardaí were called out to Tara Court, a housing development on the Ramelton Road in Letterkenny, at 4.30am this morning after a report about a car being stolen.

It is believed two men had broken into a white Toyota Corolla and were towing it away in a red Peugeot 306.

Garda McCallion and two colleagues were trying to block the car thieves when he was struck by a car and crushed up against a wall, which partially collapsed in the crash.

A 17-year-old man was arrested at the scene while another man fled on foot.

Investigating officers arrested a 19-year-old man later during a follow-up operation near the Silver Tassie hotel at Ballymaleel, about five kilometres away.

Both teenagers are being held under section four of the Criminal Justice Act at Letterkenny Garda Station.

Garda McCallion has been serving in Letterkenny since he graduated from Templemore Garda College in 2006.

His father Bob, a retired garda in Swinford, and his mother Nancy were among family members keeping a bedside vigil at Beaumont Hospital.

Garda McCallion has a brother John also serving in the force, based in Ballina, Co Mayo, and two sisters.

Shocked locals in Letterkenny said prayers this evening at a special Mass in the Church of the Irish Martyrs, organised to pray for the critically injured garda.

Both the Toyota and the Peugeot have been seized and are being tested for forensic evidence.